Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has said that his administration will continue its digital push in leveraging technology in governance.
Mba said this yesterday in Abuja, where he received the 6th National MSME Award 2024 from the Federal Government.
This award recognises Enugu State’s efforts in supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), seen as a vital sector for Nigeria’s economic growth.
“We are gladdened that our modest efforts in this space are gaining national attention,” Mbah said, while writing in a social media post.
MSMEs face numerous challenges, including access to finance, skills development, and market access. To address these issues, in February, Enugu State in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) launched a ₦1 billion fund specifically to empower Nano, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) within the state by providing access affordable loans. This initiative builds on the government’s broader support for traders, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts, according to the state government.
The Governor said that under the initiative, which aligns with his campaign promises, the Enugu State Government has “prioritised capacity building.”
Enugu State has implemented programmes targeting at least 40,000 youths annually, according to the Governor. These programmes, he said, provide training in digital innovation, programming, digital marketing, financial technology, and entrepreneurship, and these crucial skills will equip young people to compete in the global digital and entrepreneurial markets.
Mbah also emphasised the importance of integrating Enugu’s economy into the global digital economy. “We have deployed technology and smart education to integrate Enugu economy into the emerging global digital economy full of opportunities for them to thrive,” he said.
On his watch, the Governor said that Enugu is transitioning away from traditional methods, “We are currently moving away from analogue and anachronistic ways of doing things to modern ways enabled by technology and application of electronic platforms in governance.”